Whatever it takes (Claire x Leon)

Chapter 11 - Never Letting Go

Claire screamed out in pain. She looked under her to see a shiny golden trap her leg was caught in. She held her leg in pain, and tugged in hopes of freeing herself. It hurt her even more, and she let out another cry. Leon rushed over, despite being pretty close. He grabbed her sides and pulled her out of it seamlessly. Now gripping her sides and holding her in close, the two were now sharing an even more intimate moment.

Claire was up to Leon's chest, and she heard his heart beating a mile a minute. "You okay?" He asked, blushing now too. "Yeah. I'll be okay." She responded slowly. "Are you sure? Cause I'll carry you out through that gate if I have to." Claire chuckled before pushing him away playfully. She tugged onto his hand, and headed for the gate.

They saw a worried Claudette guarding a power box with three lit up lights on it. "Are we still waiting on Meg?" Asked Claire as they reached her near the gate. "Yeah. I'm hoping she makes it." Claudette responded. She looked around the area frantically. "And if she doesn't...?" Leon asked. Silence. They all looked ahead, still waiting on Meg. "We should take sides. I'll look on the left, and Leon, you check the right. Claudette, you just guard the gate and the switch."

The barn stood tall, and blocked their view. Claire figured having coverage on the sides would help prepare them for Meg's return. If she did return. No! Don't think like that. Meg would come back. That's why they were doing this. To help her when she arrived. Claire narrowed her eyes, and walked to the side of the barn. She couldn't see Leon anymore, and that made her upset. If Claire got hurt, he wouldn't see. Was this a bad idea?

"Guys! She's coming back." Leon shouted. "Get that gate opened. Now!" Claire sighed in relief. Meg was okay. And no scream either. She wasn't hurt. Claire ran to the gate, and stood by Claudette. She had the gate powered, except she waited till the last second to open it fully. Smart. "Alright." Claudette said. "Let's do this." The gate opened after she powered it all the way, and it revealed a cement walkway.

There were brick pillars on the sides, and in the middle was a structure that hung at the top. It was broken from the center, but curved like a rainbow. A very depressing and broken rainbow. Past the cement walkway was dark grass. Not like the grass in the area Claire saw, but now regular grass. They were now almost free!

Claire and Claudette stood still, but turned back to look at Leon and Meg. Leon was now jogging towards the gate, and Meg followed. But behind Meg was a very angry killer, who kept walking behind her. "Go, go, go!" Screamed Meg. Her attitude changed. She was no longer eager to face the killer, and she stopped joking around. She still ran for her life, however. Still heading towards the gate.

Claudette was first to exit, running along the cement, and then on the grass. Claire followed, but she stayed looking at Leon and Meg. She desperately hoped that they would follow. She faced Claudette, and started to run now too in that direction. She was ready to get out, ready to see her family, ready to live.

One foot in front of the other, and she pushed. She pushed and ran as fast as she could, imagining all they went through. The killer, the hooks, the generators. But she was alive! She was alive with the help of- "Claire!" Shouted Leon. She whipped around to see a smiling Leon, who was running extremely fast to catch up with her. "I'm so glad we lived." She got deja vu, and thought back to when she saw him at the gate at the police station.

His words were as clear as day. "It is so nice to see you". She remembered seeing first at the gas station. When he saved her from the zombies. And handling the self destructing station. Seeing him after that was a relief for sure. And now this! Going against a trap setting killer that wanted to hook their bodies, and kill them. Leon was... there to help through all of it.

"Leon!" She said, smiling now too. His smile was contagious. Damn. He was now running alongside Claire, and he didn't break eye contact. He enjoyed seeing her. Especially now that they escaped. "Are you okay? Is Meg okay?" She asked. "Yeah, we both made it through." Claire looked back to see Meg. She shot Claire a smirk. "Thanks for the marathon!" Claire shouted back to her. "No problem." She responded. "Let's just keep running."

Meg sped up, and now it was all four of them running alongside each other. They made a great team. They managed to outrun a serial killer, and repair a handful of machines while hiding from him. Of course there were some boo boos to be healed over time, but they still made it out alive. And that was what mattered most to all four of them.

"Where are we headed?" Asked a hopeful Claudette. "I'm not sure where this leads." Leon said. "No one does. We just have to keep running. Just in case the killer is behind." Leon narrowed his eyes, and focused on the grass path before him. They had to just keep going. "I'll run him again if he ever comes back." Meg challenged. "And no matter what, I'll keep all of you safe." Agreed Leon.

The four continued running for a bit. It hadn't been too long, but they all felt like jelly. They had been running back at the farm, and now in the dark grass area. It was exhausting. "Hey." Said a soft voice. The group all looked to the left to see Claudette. "Whatever happens... I just wanted to say thank you. For saving me back there. And for powering the gate. I wouldn't have made it out without the three of you."

"Of course." Said Claire. "And thank you for helping Leon and I back at the walls by going to the killer." Claire looked at a now giggling and blushing Claudette. She really was cute. "And thank you, miss marathon." Claire said looking at Meg now. "You really ran him forever." Claire had the most cheery and fun personality ever. She cared for everyone like she had known them for years.

"What about my thank you?" Asked Leon. "I guess you did fine." Claire responded with a joking tone. She smirked as she looked up at him, knowing it would make him a bit salty. "Just fine? I think I did better than just fine." "You did, you did. I'm just kidding." Claire said with a cheeky smile. Her smile disappeared when she looked at Leon. He just looked deep into her eyes, and didn't smile back. He had her. And he didn't want to let her go.

"Look!" Exclaimed Meg, who alerted the four. She pointed down to fog. The same fog that took them into the farm area at first. "It's here again." She said, a little disappointed. "It might be transporting us back." Informed Claudette. "You know, to the place you saw it first." It made sense. So they wouldn't be surprised if that did happen. But it still made the group sad. Would they ever see each other again?

"If that happens..." Started Claire. "I just want to say a final thank you. To all of you. This was crazy, but I appreciate all the help I had from you all. And, it was kinda fun." Claire smiled, and looked to see all of them smiling back. A hand grabbed Claire's, and she looked up to see Leon, smiling as wide as ever. They started walking ahead, but their eyes never looked away from each other. It felt good to have someone.

"Hopefully we get somewhere. We'll find Sherry and head to my apartment." Claire said. "No. I'll be alright on my own." Leon objected. "I appreciate it, but..." "But what? Leon, I don't want to be alone. And I need to take care of your wounds." Claire was stern now, not letting Leon go alone. She wanted him near her at all times now. "Hospitals are not safe now. Not near you at least." Leon looked down. Claire was right. She could easily help him recover. "You're right. I guess I have no choice."

"Meg, Claudette? You guys wanna head with us for a little bit? I can help with any scars, if you'd like." Claire knew she should ask if they needed some help. Even if they were good already. But she got no answer from them. All she heard was the sound of two pairs of feet running along grass. Claire turned back, but they were gone. And then it hit her again. The dizziness from the fog. Again.

Claire grunted, and held her head. Her body felt heavy, and she almost collapsed to the ground. Leon caught her in his arms. "You okay?" He asked, his mouth to her ear, whispering almost. "It's the fog again." She said, quietly. "I just hope it doesn't split us up." Leon closed his eyes. "It's gonna take a lot more than that to split us up." He opened his eyes.

He wasn't surrounded by grass anymore. Instead he was in front of a police car, still holding onto Claire. He looked into the windshield, and saw Sherry. She looked stunned at first, but then smiled wide in relief. Leon let go of Claire, and looked down to see her. He smiled now too, and she did the same. "I told you it would take a lot more." He said. "I'm never letting you go."